234 T^^ Irish Naturalist. 



served it hover over a Coot, which dived until it could dive 

 no longer, and was then taken for a prey. 



The Skdgk Warbi^kr struck me not by its presence in the 

 lake-districts so much as by its scarcity. It is reported to me 

 as breeding in every Irish county, except lyongford, where I 

 have met with it, and in Cavan, Clare, and lycitrim, where my 

 informants have probably overlooked it. I have observed it 

 near Castle Irvine, Fermanagh; on lyough Oughter, Cavan; 

 Lough Iron, Lough Owel, and Lough Drin, in Westmeath ; 

 and on the Shannon near Banagher. Still these instances are 

 few, and I was greatly surprised when I listened for it in vain 

 about Lough Derg, Lough Ree, and a host of other lakes and 

 marshy spots. It is stated to be local and uncommon in 

 Westmeath and King's Co. 



The Garden Warbi^kr, though not confined to the lake- 

 districts, has only been observed by me there, and as yet 

 my knowledge of it points to the valleys of the Shannon, to 

 Lough Erne and Lough Arrow, as some of its chief resorts in 

 Ireland, but I have reason to think that it is to be found in 

 Queen's Co., and probably in many other districts. I have 

 recently treated of it at greater length (see Irish Naturalist, 

 July, 1893). 



The W11.1.OW Warbi^er is very abundant about the lakes and 

 among the willows, even on the lonel}^ parts of the Shannon. 



The Rked Bunting is the most characteristic passerine bird 

 of the lakes. It is to be found where no other small bird is to 

 be seen. On every islet one may find nests of this species 

 among the coarse sedgy grass. It is usually hatching, 

 but sometimes rearing young, the first week in June. It is 

 reported to breed in every IrivSh county, except Carlow, where 

 it must have been overlooked. 



The Spotted Crake, though uncommon, probably breeds 

 in many instances. Its eggs, taken by Col. Irwin, in Roscom- 

 mon, about 1856, are now in the Science and Art Museum. 

 Two were shot, and two others seen on Upper Lough Erne in 

 late summer or early autumn, 1890, by Mr. George Husbands, 

 of Enniskillen ; one was shot at Colebrooke, also in Fermanagh, 

 on 27th September, 1890; two were shot in August, 1880, in 

 Queen's Co., by Mr. T. Trench ; and two were shot in West- 

 meath, in October, 1892 {Irish Sportsman, 29th October, 1892). 



The Coot has its great strongholds in the lakes. Though 



